SYNOPSIS

ONLY IN AMERICA! Puts all the chaos, backstabbing, and cynicism of a Presidential Election into music and dancing with the attention on the effect the media has on its’ outcome.

While our candidates, Maxwell Carbondale and Dexter Wainwright, are dealing with holding crying babies and, as usual, trying to hide or explain away their past and present indiscretions in order to get elected, the members of the media at YMI NEWS are busy with their own agenda’s.

Through comedy, wit, great music and wonderful dancing, we see everything from their bodacious announcements to the hypocrisy of the debates, the spin doctoring, the pollsters and everything in between all the way up to election day. All while the media is doing their best to manipulate in the background.

On the other hand, our heroine, Ethel Rupert, one of the reporters for YMI News, tries her best to hold it all together by sticking to the higher ideals to which we all should aspire, but her media associates ridicule and do their best to make it as difficult as they can for her. Still, she continues to look at the world through her “Rose Colored Glasses,” and refuses to give up on trying to always do her “Highest Sense of Right!”

ONLY IN AMERICA! Simply laughs at all the players in the media and the political world and has a wonderful time at their expense. All this coupled with exceptional music (everything from Tango to Waltz) and exhilarating dance numbers throughout.

Not to mention the surprise ending! Who says the people don’t have a voice?

Cast of Characters

CAST SIZE: 26 (Has been performed with 17)

• ETHEL RUPERT: (a sweet young woman in her early 30’s) YMI News Reporter who covers the Maxwell Carbondale campaign. She wears “Rose colored glasses” to depict her outlook on life.
• DAPHNE MOUTHINGEAR: (An attractive but conniving woman in her mid 30’s) YMI News Anchor. She is ruthlessly ambitious to get to the top at YMI News.
• LANCE NOZALL: (A fastidious, attractive man in his late 30’s-early 40’s) YMI News Anchor. He has an ego as big as he is and yet he is a likeable sort.
• DAVE BUNGLAR: (A good looking young man in his mid to late 20’s) YMI News Reporter who covers the Dexter Wainright campaign. He is bright and tries hard to put on a really great appearance in front of the camera.
• DEXTER WAINRIGHT: (40-45 yrs old, he’s good looking and he knows it) Presidential Candidate for the Old Glory Party. He is a womanizer and loves blondes.
• MAXWELL CARBONDALE: (45-50 yrs old, he is a bit portly, but dresses well) Presidential Candidate for the Yankee Doodle Party. he is an accountant with a reputation for sticky fingers with money.
• HAL MONROE: (Well dressed 45-50 yrs old) Typical Political TV Moderator.
• LITTLE OLD LADY: (80-85 yrs old) Very formal and proper yet loving, sweet and kind. A guardian angel type.
• MAN #1: (80 yr old Jerry Lewis Type).
• MAN #2: (80 yr old Jackie Mason Type).
• CARBONDALE CHORUS
• WAINRIGHT CHORUS
• NANNY #1
• NANNY #2
• MAILMAN
• HOOKER
• JOGGING WOMAN #1
• JOGGING WOMAN #2
• PRISON CORRECTIONS OFFICER
• CONVICTS #1, #2, #3 and #4
• SECRET SERVICE TEAM LEADER
• SECRET SERVICE DANCERS
• FEMALE OPERA SINGER: A bit buxom and “Over-the-Hill”. In a formal gown holding her elbows out and clasping her hands at the fingers in a very formal operatic pose. Never smiles.
• SECRET SERVICE MEMBERS (Dancers)
• CARBONDALE STAFF MEMBERS #1, #2, #3, #4 & #5: Ambitious young political “wanna-be’s.”
• WAINRIGHT STAFF MEMBERS #1, #2 & #3: Ambitious young political “wanna-be’s.”
• CARBONDALE CHIEF OF STAFF: (Mature early 50’s)
• WAINRIGHT CHIEF OF STAFF: (Mid 40’s) Nervous and stressed out.
• SPIN DOCTOR: (Mid 40’s) Nervous and stressed out.
• POLLSTER #1: (male, 30 something) Smartly dressed, high tech business looking, and yet, also sensual looking.
• POLLSTER #2: (male, 30 something) Smartly dressed, high tech business looking, and yet, also sensual looking.
• POLLSTER #3: (female, 30 something) Smartly dressed, high tech business looking, and yet, also sensual looking.
• CAMERAMAN: Ethel’s Cameraman.
• VOTER #1: Woman
• VOTER #2: Man
• VOTER #3: Woman

Music Line-Up

Director’s Notes

ONLY IN AMERICA! is one of our “FLEXICAST FRIENDLY” Musicals. The cast size is noted to be 26 cast members, but it has been done with only 17 people (some doing multiple roles). The cast size can also be increased by adding members to the Chorus for many of the singing and dance numbers. (At Director’s discretion).

Your “Materials Package” will include all the scripts you will need, a “PIANO VOCAL SCORE BOOK”, as well as a demo CD and a “PRESS PLAY” CD which includes all the music and/or sound effects you will need to perform the work. This CD can be used to rehearse with and even to perform with. Your scripts contain the notations for using the “PRESS PLAY” CD system. It’s incredibly easy! “PRESS PLAY” allows theaters that have previously been unable to perform musicals to finally enjoy doing so.

The full orchestra scores are also available for those theaters who wish to perform the music in all its glory. We encourage you to feel free to call us any time at (215) 345-5550 and talk to the authors/composers about any concerns, required changes, or anything else. We’re always here to help and happy to hear from you.

We will also gladly provide the ONLY IN AMERICA! Artwork upon request in whatever format you may need it. There is no charge for the artwork.

Production Notes

TIME: Present Day

PLACE: United States of America

SETS:

ACT I

• Scene 1 – Stage split into two, depicting two distinctly different geographical locations. Podiums with forward space for the crowd gathered to see”their candidate.”
• Scene 2 – Hallway outside the office of the Head of the Newsroom, a.k.a. “The Boss.”
• Scene 3 – A City Park with two park benches.
• Scene 4 – An Auditorium set up for a Presidential Debate with open floor space at stage front for waltz number.
• Scene 5 – Secret Service/Carbondale’s Hotel Suite, preceding Carbondale’s arrival.

ACT II

• Scene 1 – Carbondale’s Hotel Suite.
• Scene 2 – Wainright’s Hotel Suite.
• Scene 3 – A Sunday Morning Talk Show Set at Station, CUNL.
• Scene 4 – A public ladies’ room at the TV station, after the Sunday morning show.
• Scene 5 – A stage full of dancers. Background there are desks with telephones, computers and stacked paperwork. In the foreground are long, tall dancing poles wrapped with red, white and blue stripes spiraling down to the floor (like a barber pole).
• Scene 6 – Front of a polling station on election day.
• Scene 7 – Stage divided in half. Each side represents each candidate’s party rooms with podiums obviously anticipating victory speeches.

STAGING: Included within script where necessary.

COSTUMES:

Street Dress.

There is a navigation bar at the bottom of the script sample.  From it you can turn the page, enlarge part of the view, expand to fit the full screen, or download the pdf.  If you enlarge to full screen, pressing the ESC key will return you here.

Your Materials Package Includes:

• 30 Scripts
• 1 Piano/Vocal Score Book
• 1 Press Play CD
• Full Orchestrations are available

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